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T O P I C R E V I E W

Robert Pearlman

Regency-Superior's next public auction (#47) is scheduled for April 9, 2005, in Beverly Hills, California. The Space and Collectibles section will begin at 4pm, and features many famous autographs, a variety of space memorabilia from virtually all the American and Russian missions including many items actually carried into space and to the Moon.

The following highlights from their 377 space lots were selected by Superior's staff. Lot descriptions are from their catalog. The full auction catalog can also be viewed online by clicking here.

Lot Number: 16701962 Mercury 7 Autographs Complete

All seven signatures Carpenter. Cooper, Glenn, Grissom, Schirra, Shepard & Slayton on an 8"x10" black & white composite reproduction of their portraits in civilian clothes. Each signed beneath his picture in blue fountain pen ink. Seldom do we see all seven of our first astronauts on single piece, even more seldom are their signatures so clear in pen rather than felt tip. A wonderful piece, worthy of the finest collection.

Lot Number: 16961969 Armstrong, Aldrin & Collins Signed Photo

Color 8"x10" photo on Kodak professional paper signed by all three with the same blue pen. Uninscribed, white space suit photos are quite desirable. Pristine condition.

Lot Number: 17341971 Jim Irwin’s Flown Personal Preference Kit (PPK)

Personal preference kit flown to the Moon on Apollo 15. The white beta cloth bag is 6"x9" & has draw string through brass grommet at the top. On the bag is 3"x1½" label with following: KIT, PILOT S PREFERENCE, SEB 12100018-202, S/N 1130, MFG. NASA MSC 4-70. Copy of Apollo 15 Stowage list listing this item as well as COA from Odyssey Group who first sold this item for Jim Irwin’s widow, Mary Irwin in 1994. A RARE and highly desirable piece of flown lunar equipment. Seldom are these kits available and the demand is very strong.

Robert Pearlman

Lot Number: 17351971 Crew Signed Flown To The Moon Cover

Clean & attractive cover carried aboard Apollo 15 to surface of the Moon, signed by all three crew members Dave Scott, Al Worden & Jim Irwin. They have also signed notarized certificate of authenticity included with the cover. The ultimate in Space philately - a cover that has actually been to the surface of the Moon! Very fine.

This is a rare item in perfect condition. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Signed photo of Charlie Duke holding this piece included (signature a bit smeared on photo).

Lot Number: 17441972 Flown Beef Sandwiches

Package containing group of bite-sized beef sandwiches from Gene Cernan's private collection of left-over meals that were flown to the Moon on the Apollo 17 mission. Always one of the more noteworthy collectibles from the space program. Flown food is a great display and conversation piece for any collection. Accompanied by photo-cert signed by Gene Cernan. This package was actually Harrison Schmitt's as evidenced by white Velcro square on the package; if it had been Cernan's it would have had a red Velcro square.

Robert Pearlman

Lot Number: 17451972 Flown Apollo 17 Patch

Oversized, initialed Apollo 17 patch (made only for this mission) with initials GC plus extra star sewn into blue background above shoulder. Signed on the back and hand notated by him FLOWN ON APOLLO XVII on the reverse. Pristine condition. RARE and quite desirable.

Lot Number: 18171930s Tsiolkovsky Handwritten & Signed Text

One page written on both sides by Tsiolkovsky with wonderful drawings on both sides including man flying in space. Text discusses space travel. Full signature at bottom. International Public Charitable Foundation for Support of Russian Cosmonauts Cert.

Each with initials LAI (indicating flown) standing for Lazutkin Alexander Ivanovich , member of both TM-25 and TM-34 crews. Initials located below blue anodized cuff, black rubber fingers and black leather palm. Important addition to any collection.

Lot Number: 19161999 Group Of 44 Astronauts SignaturesAll 44 members of this magnificent fraternity. Three members of this class (William McCool, David Brown & Laurel Clark), perished when STS-107 disintegrated. Light blue card stock with all signatures in black fine tip. Scarce & very desirable. Will look fantastic framed.

Lot Number: 19321965 Gagarin Training Centrifuge Presentation Model

Scale model of actual centrifuge located at Center of Cosmonaut s Training in Star City, 7½"x4", mounted on 7¾"x%1/8" circular base. Presentation plaque reads (From) Center of Cosmonaut s Training of Yu. A. Gagarin. Model was most likely made at Energia in Korolev City. Cabin of centrifuge moves in four directions. We have never seen a model like this before. Quite valuable and of good quality.

Each with initials LAI (indicating flown) standing for Lazutkin Alexander Ivanovich , member of both TM-25 and TM-34 crews.

Hmm... that is an interesting approach to verify if something is flown...

What a terrible BS... this "flown" attribute is really turning into a disease lately!

Since when do initials indicate the "flown" status of a Russian glove?

Florian

Philip

You're 100% right Florian... I remember ESA-Cosmonauts training at Star City with Sokol gloves with initials!

In my opinion there are only two ways to know if a Sokol or Orlan glove has flown status:

Buy it directly from Cosmonaut (e.g. via Alex Panchenko who always provides photos of the items being in space station!)

Flown gloves mostly have stamps on them (these stamps are also used for Postal memorabilia if I'm not mistaken) ...but I once heard that even these stamps are available to "clever untrust-worthy dealers"

Your opinions and remarks please!

Hart Sastrowardoyo

quote:Originally posted by spaceflori:Hmm...that is an interesting approach to verify if something is flown.

Of course they're flown... they were pitched through the air when they were shipped. Oh, you mean, flown in space?! Well, that's a different animal...

spaceflori

quote:Originally posted by Philip:...but I once heard that even these stamps are available to "clever untrust-worthy dealers"

You could have even bought some prototypes in one of the last Superior auctions in the old days... now if there are proof postmarkers out there...

Otherwise agree with you, buy them from the cosmonaut itself or through somebody like Alex - there is no better choice out there.

Florian

Ken Havekotte

A couple of brief remarks. The PPKs flown aboard Apollo 15 were a total of 5 altogether, however, the kits that were stored inside LM-10/Falcon were NEVER retrieved by either Scott or Irwin after their return from the moon's surface to rejoin Worden while in lunar orbit. Therefore, the personal kits along with all of their contents were never seen back on Earth again as they crashed into the moon.

Only the 3 kits that remained in lunar orbit were indeed returned to each crewmember, however, Irwin's CM kit was listed with a different serial number than what was indicated in the auction lot. Without checking first into my files, I believe his CM PPK was #1178 or something like that that I'll recheck once I can relocate the proper info-file. The longer number does indeed relate to the overall or general identifying number for 15's astronaut peference kits, however, the actual four-digit number doesn't correspond to the kit being offered in this acution as S/N 1130. That is still a mystery that I am hoping to eventually solve soon. Another lot being offered is a glossy 8x10 signed by the Apollo 11 crew. Be advised, even without personally viewing the actual photo lot, NASA did in fact produced 100s of that particular pic with early printed signatures of the first lunar landing crew.

SRB

Ken, it would be great if you could shed some more light on the Irwin PPK question becasue the official records don't fit together well. The Final Stowage List for Apollo 15 shows two PPK in the CM; one for Scott and one for Worden. It does not list any for Irwin. The list also shows one PPK in the LM, one for Irwin that matches the basic number of the one in the Regency/Superior sale. What is "missing" is a PPK for Irwin in the CM and one for Scott in the LM. The section of the Stowage List showing what was returned to Earth in the CM includes all three PPKs that were shown at launch. One PPK (Irwin's) is shown as having been transferred from the LM to the CM.

Since we "know" that two PPKs were left behind in the LM (one for Irwin and one for Scott), and that one PPK that was on the moon was retruned to Earth (which had the stamp covers that got them in trouble) what could have happened? My conclusion is that the Stowage List omitted the two PPKs that did not return, which were Scott's LM and Irwins's CM PPKs. It is not unusual for this otherwise accurate official document to omit things related to the astronauts. So, if you have more specific information about the Apollo 15 PPKs, that would be great.

Steve

DChudwin

Received my catalog in the mail today-- very well illustrated.

Astro Bill

I received my copy of the Regency-Superior catalog yesterday. It is well illustrated and is a collector's item itself. The catalogs for the Oct 2001 and May 2002 Superior space memorabilia auctions are an important part of my space library.

The 9 Apr 2005 space memorabilia auction catalog is printed in an interesting format - Lots #1 - #1638, featuring classic US & British singles, sets and covers, is printed on pp. #1-135 (including 58 pages of illustrations in FULL COLOR). The 2001 and 2002 auctions were also profusely illustrated, but in B&W after each lot description. Turning the 2005 catalog up-side-down, you find the Space Memorabilia Auction - Lots #1639-2260 (including 34 pages of illustrations in FULL COLOR).

Regency-Superior has discovered that "a picture (especially one in FULL COLOR) is worth a thousand words." It is fascinating looking at the lots and being amazed that these items even exist. Of course, seeing them in FULL COLOR makes the lots more desirable and more intriguing. This is a professionally prepared catalog designed to attract serious and knowledgeable collectors.

The Space Memorabilia section (Lots #1629 - Lot #1954) comprises 315 lots separated into sections by subject (balloons, rockets, Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, X-15, Shuttle, etc.) and each lot in the section is listed by date. I will use this catalog often as a reference when writing articles for the "Astrophile" of the Space Unit. It will be interesting to see the prices realized for these amazing items.

The catalog is priced at $15, but you may be able to obtain a copy at this late date by contacting the R/S at their website. If you plan to attend the auction, you may wish to consider writing an article on the auction for the "Astrophile." Bring a camera with you because "a picture is worth a thousand words."